Asparagus recipes are great for those people who like to eat nutritious food.
Over the years, asparagus has gained popularity as a healthful food. Low in sodium and calories, it is ideal for hypertensive patients.
Asparagus can be eaten raw in salads, pickled and stored for months, stir fried, boiled or grilled. While buying asparagus, always look for bunches with fresh stalks and compacted heads. Enjoy these 5 asparagus recipes:
How to Cook Simple Asparagus
Prepare Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Before trying out any of the asparagus recipes given here, it is important to learn how to cook simple asparagus.
Ingredients: Asparagus
Instructions:
Firstly wash the asparagus well to take off all the dirt. Now cut of the bottom 1 inch and peel the thick skin as the skin does not cook properly. Boil them in salted water for 5 minutes, remove and immediately put in ice cold water.
This helps preserve the crunchy texture asparagus. Melt a knob of butter in a pan and add the boiled asparagus, stir and then add salt and pepper. Serve hot straight away with salmon or potato.
Asparagus can be grilled as well. Melt butter in a grilling pan and cook for a few minutes. Serve hot.
Asparagus and Beans Salad
Prepare Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Here is one of the best asparagus and green bean recipes. To make Asparagus and beans salad, you will need:
Ingredients:
• Asparagus 500g
• Red/green beans 200g
• Red onions 1, medium
• Cheddar/ Monterey jack cheese 100g
• Olive oil 1 teaspoon
• Lemon juice 2 tablespoon
• Mint leaves few leaves
Here is how to make asparagus and bean recipe:
1. Cut asparagus sticks it two pieces.
2. Cut the cheese in cubes. Use any hard, non melting cheese.
3. Chop the red onion into small pieces.
4. Boil water in a pan and add asparagus. Cook for 5 minutes. Take out the asparagus sticks and place in ice cold water.
5. In a bowl, add asparagus, onions, and cheese cubes.
6. Make salad dressing by mixing lemon juice, olive oil, salt and freshly ground pepper.
7. Add the dressing to the salad just before serving.
Baked Asparagus with Garlic
Prepare Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes
Garlic is the perfect match for asparagus recipes. To make Baked Asparagus with Garlic, you will need:
Ingredients:
• Asparagus 1 kg
• Olive oil 3 tablespoons
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon
• Minced garlic 2 teaspoons
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Steps to make baked asparagus recipes with garlic:
1. Preheat the oven.
2. Arrange asparagus in a layer at the bottom of a baking pan.
3. Mix together olive oil and garlic.
4. Brush the asparagus sticks well with this batter.
5. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. .
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tender and light brown. Avoid over cooking. Stir the asparagus sticks a few times while cooking.
7. When cooked, arrange the asparagus sticks in a dish and pour the lemon juice over the sticks. Yummy Baked Asparagus with Garlic is ready.
Asparagus Soup Delight
Prepare Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Asparagus soup delight makes a creamy soup with a strong flavor of blue stilton cheese. To make this soup, you will need:
Ingredients:
• Asparagus 200g
• Broccoli 350 g
• Chicken stalk 3 cups
• Butter 2 tablespoon
• Nutmeg
• Blue stilton cheese 50 g
• Chopped spring onions 1/2 cup
• Full cream 1/2 cup
Steps to make asparagus soup delight:
1. Put broccoli and asparagus in a pan and add the chicken stalk. Vegetarians can replace this with vegetable stalk.
2. Cook for 5 minutes or until tender.
3. Melt butter in another pan and stir fry the chopped spring onions.
4. In a blender, add broccoli, asparagus, vegetable/chicken stalk, cream, cheese, nutmeg powder and fried spring onions.
5. Blend until smooth.
6. Transfer this mixture into a pan and heat gently until the soup begins to bubble. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve!
Asparagus with Grape Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
Prepare Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
This makes a yummy salad ideal for a snack. To make Asparagus with Grape Tomatoes & Goat Cheese, you will need:
Ingredients:
• Boiled Asparagus 500g
• Grape tomatoes 1 cup
• Goat cheese 50g
• Red onions 1, small
• Chopped fresh basal 2 tablespoons
• Toasted nuts 2 tablespoons
• Italian salad dressing 4 tablespoons
Follow the steps to make Asparagus with grape Tomatoes & Goat Cheese:
1. Cut grape tomatoes in half.
2. Crumble the goat cheese.
3. Thinly slice red onions
4 To make Italian salad dressing: add 2 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, red chili flakes, black pepper, parmesan cheese and salt in a blender. Blend until a smooth dressing is formed.
5. Mix together all the ingredients and add the Italian salad dressing.
6. Top up with chopped basal and goat cheese.
All these asparagus recipes can be made either with white or green asparagus. Try them all to find your favourite recipe.